Berth



Feb. 23, 1932. M. H. WHITE Y 1,846,824

BERTH Filed Nov 9, 1928 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. WARM/40am? A! Mm? ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1932. M. H. WHITE 1,846,824

BERTH Filed Nov 9, 1928 :5 Sheets-Shet 2 I BY W n W M. ITE

BERTH Filed Nov 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 V W .II IIIII ii INVENTOR. Mfl/PMHUU/ff ng Patented Feb. 23, 1932 c UNITED ST MAR ADUKE n. wnrrn, oR AL'rIMoRn, MARYLAND, AssieiioR To ans Roms con 1 v PANY, rim, or ROME, NEW YORK, A ooRroRArIon or new YORK: I

IBERTE U Application filed lNove-mber 9,1928. S'eria1 Nb.-'3 18i118.

My present invention relates to the construction and mode of operation of berths of the type in which the berth is pivotally supported and movable reiative to its sup- & port from a substantially vertical: or closed position to a substantially horizontal oropen position for use and vice versa. Berthsof' this type are particularly adaptedfor use in railroad sleeping cars andmarine vessels. HP The general object of my invention isv to provide animproved construction and arrangement of the partsof a berth of this type and particularly to provide simple ands-tied ti've provisions whereby the berth is more easily and safely operated than has been possible heretoiore.

The object of my invention is attained the provision of torsion spring mechanism. for halancing-the weight of the berth; by provisions for automatically iocking the berth its'closed open positions; by the provision of af single manually operated re? leasing mechanism; by means tor automati cally raising and lowering the lee raihwhen;

the berth is moved to its open and elosed p0;

sitions, respectively; and by the arrangement of the berth parts and accompanying spring and mattress in such a mannerthat vibration and rattling of the partsis: eliminated.v

'lghe various fieaturesof" novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out witl'r particularity in the claims: annexed to and forming a partofzthis. specification. For a better understanding of the invention; however;- and the advantages'possessedby it reference should be hadto the accompanying drawings and. descriptive matter I have ilzlustratedand described preierred em? bodiments otthe. inventions a a Oithedrawingsia f 7 y Fig. lis; a perspective of a berthiemb'odymy invention;

n Fig; 2 asection on the linee-ejbr h Fig.3; 7 1 .is a transverse section through the apparatus-shown inFig. 1;

Figg is an enlarged plan viewof part 01- s the balancing-mechanism';

Fig: 5 is viewsiiniiartoliig, 350i amodifiediconstrrrction; 1

zontaliiyr spaced apart andylower brackets;

' end of the p'inG 'and 'sleeve JV-are formed with registering slots G and J respectively s Fig.- 6: is a section onthe line 66 of Fig. 5.

In Figs 1 to 4 of the'drawings I haveiliustrated one embodiment of my invention in which the berth comprises a body A, prei-vc erably of sheet steel having vertical wall end portions Age vertical front wall portion A having its upper edge bent to form a reotan gularreinforcingbeam A on its innerside I and a r'earwail portion A also bent: to pros. vide a hollow reinforcing beam A s a As illustrated in Figs, 1 and 3 the berth isrnormally supported from a vertical wall or similar support Bby upper bra'ckets B'hori G, theibrackets'C being spaced slightly further apart thanthe brackets B. Supporting braces D55each comprising upper and lower flat bars D and D respectively, rectangular in cross section arp-ivotally connected to'thei brackets Band to the inner side of the end wall portions- A adjacent the front wall, A The pivotal connection of each lower 'bariD with theflberth body comprises a fixed pin-F projectin inwardly from. the inner sideflof'l wall AL compression spring F'niounted I the pin 13 acts on the lower end of the cor} responding bar 19? to press it towards the wall'lend ofthepin; Each pair of bars D" connected bya pivot pinD v s v p The berth body ispivotally supported at eachendon a hollow pin Gzhaving itsouter end rigidly connected to the corresponding t bracketO. A'bearingA isrremovably mount-- ed on vertical slotin the end wall Ajand 35 held thereinby clips A" on each side of the bearing and plate. The pin G serves ,as' an arbor fora sleeved, theouterpend of which is positioned in the bearingAi kTheinner r and D have their adjacent ends pivotall y in which the innerend H off-"a torsion spring H arranged: on and surrounding 'thesleeve J is positioned; The fspringqend H7 isheld in the slots G and Jby a lockingpin G? ex.-

tending diametrically 1 through the pin Thespring H is so wonnd on thesleeveJ that lwhen theberth is in thelopen .rpositionythe spring is under torsion with its outer end H extending;downwardly and tangentially 19 i l therefrom. This end is held in that position by an angle plate K mounted on a horizontal adjustment screw L and adjustably positioned thereon by a nut K to vary the tor sion of the spring. The screw L is adjustably mounted in spaced angle brackets L and L each of which is secured to the inner ing means for this purpose are provided at,"

' each end of the berth for engaging each brace bar'D and comprise a latch keeper M consisting of'aflat plate portion M on both sides of an inclined surface M, the upperend of which is a plane surface M Each latch keeper M is adjustably mounted 'on the inner side of the corresponding wall A by, a bolt and slot connection with each plate portion M and the keeper arranged in such a manner that the lower surface of the arm D contacts with and is supported on the fiat end portion M when the brace arms are extended. A latch keeper N similar in construction to the latch keeperM, is also mounted on each wall A at a point horizontally spaced towards the-rear of the berth from the latch keeper M. The keeper N is arranged with its inclined surface N extending in a SIlbSt-ZLII". tial vertical direction and the flat end por-f tion N- at the bottom of the keeper- A lug O is mounted on each end platebetweenth-e corresponding latch keeper Mv and. the'front. 'sideof the berth body. Thelower' surface of the lug O is positioned parallel to the plane surface M and separated therefrom by a space sufficient to receive the brace bar D for a purpose hereinafter described.

Manually operated releasing mechanism 15 provided in the berth construction for simultaneously releasing the brace arm at each end of the berth fromengargement with the corresponding latch keepers in both the open and closed positions of the berth. .In the embodi ment shown the releasing mechanism comprises an L-shaped lever P mounted on each I end plate A. Each lever isarran'ged in a rvertical 'plane with its short legportion P adjacent the front wallof the berth and with its long horizontal leg-loosely mounted on the pin F and a similar pin FiliOrizontally and rearwardly spaced therefrom. The lever is positioned on the pin F between the braceba'r D 'and the wall A. Aseconfd lever P simi lar inform to: the lever P except for omitting 7 end of the short the leg P, is positioned on the pinsF and F 2 on the inner side of the lever P. The lower pivoted end of the bar D is arranged on the pin F between the levers Pand P and the parts held in the assembled position by the action of the compression spring F and a spring F on the pin F The lever 15 serves as a, guide for the brace arm D during the movements of the latter. With this arrangement, thelevers P and P and the bracearmthrough'whicha pull key Q is passed with its curved handle portion Q normally maintainedin the recessed'escutcheon plate. by av compression spring Q mounted on the inner end .of the key. The. spring Q, is held in position between, the rear side of the escutcheon plateand a pull keeper plate R secured on the rear end ofthe key. The plate R is substantially'diamond shaped with an opening R formedat each end thereof for receiving one end of an operating rod S, the otherend of whichis connectedto the offset vertical leg portion Pof the lever P.

, A spring T comprising a plurality ofinterconnected coils and a mattress T are usually positioned in the berth body as indicated by the broken lines in Figs. 3 and 5 with the upper portion of the mattress projectingbeyond theicurved upper edges of the body end walls. Thespring can be held in position the berth by suitable clips arranged on the inner side of-the body side.

and end walls. V

Inberths of this type it is customary to provide a lee rail of a-well known form adjacent the head'end of-the berth to prevent the occupant from rolling out. In the present berth construction-the lee rail V is automatically'maintained in a substantially vertical positionon the front sideof'the berth when the latter. is inthe open position and 001-. lapsedwhen the berth is moved tothe closed. position. .As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lee rail is constructed of rectangular steel tubing and pivotally connected at its ends to the beam A at the front ofthe berth by pivot brackets V. Thismethod of connecting the lee rail to the berth permitsthe same lee rail construction to be used on either right or left hand berths. A link V is pivot'allyhconnected to the, front end of the'lee rail, and an'intermediat-e portion of the brace bar D Withthe parts constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described and the berth in its lowered position, as illustrated in full lines in Fi 3,the braces D are pre- ISO ventedfrom breaking downwardly by. the

engagement of the barsD withthe latch the action of the spring Q to remove the keyfrom the recess inthe plate and permit the key'to be rotated. On rotation ofthe key in either direction the pull keeperpla-te R is turned to operate the rods S :and levers P. Each lever? is moved inwardly against the action of the springskFiand 17 130 force:-

the corresponding brace bar D off-th'e fiat surface M of the latch fkeeper 'M lC-his movement having been accomplished the berth can easily be raised "to the closed posi-.

tion with the aid of the torsion springs :H;

When each "brace bar D is released from en-"c gagement with the latch keepeiythe jointed brace is-stil-l prevented from breakingaup' wardly the contact of the-bar D with the projecting lug :0. As the berth'is'raised and the bars D and Dmove inwardly, anddownwardly, the lee-rail receives a corresponding pivotal .HIOYGIHGIIL'" until it contacts withand.

presses down on the mattress and 'spring; As the berth approaches the vertical position each bar 1) contacts with the inclined surface N on the latch keeper N andythe pull key being then released, is forced downwardly and laterally until it rslides over the lower end of the latch keeper and is held in contact with the fiat lower surface of the keeper by the springs F";an'dF Before raising the berth to its closed position, the pillows T and blankets-T ordinarily used are placed on the mattress 1T asindicated in Fig. 3. On being: raised totheiclosed position, the upper surface of themattress, pillows and folded blankets will contactwith the surface of the wall B. The final raising movement of the berth efiects a compression of these articles and the spring To between the wall B and the bottom of theberthj The outer portionsof the-mattress and'spring will be compressed by the lee rail V when the latter is used. The maintenance offthe mattress; and spring. under compression and fixed in position when the berth is in 1138 upper closed position is especially -advan tageous in avoiding the noise that would otherwise occur by the'shifting'of these .and other parts in theberth "due to themovements of the vehicle or vessel in which the berth is used. c

i when it is desired to was the berth for occupancy the pull key is operated in the same manner as before to release the bars D from engagement with the 'rearlatch keeper and the berthis moved downwardl-y against the increasing" force of the torsion spring,

As the berth is opened, the leera-il is raised and each bar I) moved upwardly andflatiorally on the corresponding inclined surface M until it slips over and is-.heldflonthe flat ortion of the keeperlVL- y In Figs. 5 and GIha've illustrated a modi fled: construction of the brace bar locking means inwhich the lateral movement and endplay o fthe brace bars are eliminated and p the berth isjreleased: from the locking posi-a tionsbya positive movement of the locking elements relative to the brace-bars; III/this construction each brace bar D is pivotally V connectedto a fixed ,pin Win a location similarto that of thepin F. A bearing plate WV is supportedf-rom the. pin W between the bar l) -a'nd the wall A and arranged-to rotatably support the front end of an L- shaped. control rod N The short leg-portion-VV of the-control rod is connected to the operatingro'd S in-any' suitable manner.

The rear end of the control rod is 'rotatably mou ntedgi-n'the lower end of-a bearing plate" secured to the end wall A, The rear bearing plate is provided with a pin W projecting inwardly from an intermediate portion thereof.

' Alf-rout latch keeper X has its lower end secured to an intermediate-portion-of the control rod'and its upper edge inclined at an angle similar to that of the-bar D 'in the extended position. The "latch keeper is formed at its-side adjacent theend wall with a short outwardlyinclined portion X leading to the plane top surface X of the keeper. A second latch keeper is provided atxa point rearwa-rdly of the keeper X and com 7 prises a supporting plate Y having its lower keeper Zsubstantially similar'in construction to the latch keepers M and of j Figs. 1 to '3, is adjustably mountedon the outer side'of the-supporting plate Y withits 'incl-i-ned surface Z extending from the-lower plane surface Z With the modified forniof locking means described, each braeebar D ie -locked in the open position ofth'e'berth by its engagement with the corresponding front latchkeeper. When it is desired to'release the brace rod'to permit the closi-ng of'tlie' berth," the pull key is operated in the usuall'manner to move the operating r'odf S. The rods causes the co'n-- trol rod ll to turn thereby moving the front, latch keeper outof engagementwith the brace bar D and"permittingfthe brace "to break 1 downwardly. Upward breaking q o'fthe brace is prevented as usualby'tlie lug 0.

When the pull keyisfreleasedpthe control rod and keepers; are restored to their nor mal position by. the action of the spring'yt,

' V of the spring Y The latch keeper is forced a As theberthisimoved towards the closed position with the assistance of thetorsion spring H and the keepers are in theirnormal position, the brace bar D comes into contact.

' with the inclined surface .Z? of the rear latch keeper. On further movement of thefberth towards the closed position, the .bar: I)? is moved. downwardly forcing the rear latch keeper and supporting plate :to move about the axis of thecontrol rod against the action inwardly until the brace bar passes over the end of the inclined surface Z- into the position indicates in broken lines in Figs. 5 and G. The deflecting forcebeing removed, the

latch keeper is returned to the position shown in Fig; 6 by the spring Y and holds the brace bar locked until the operating mechanism is again operated torelease the brace bar The connections between the control rod and'pull key are arranged topermit the slight rotation of the keepers and control rod under the camming movement ofjthe brace bar during the berth closing movement without affecting the position of the pull key. i Y 1 The berth constructions illustrated and described are characterized by their simplicity,

elfectiveness,qand compactness. The constructions are light, rigid and 'metallic throughout. lVit-h the v operating features described and shown,-the berth can beoperated easily and safely. The berthcan be raised and lowered safely even if for some reason the torsion springs are rendered inoperativel v V v lVhile in accordanc-ewith the provisions of the statutes, I have illustratedand described the best forms of ny'inve'ntion now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from thespirit ofmy invention as set forth in the appendedclaims, and that in a some cas'escertain features of my invention sponding use of other features. p

- Having now described my invention what may beused to advantage without a corre- I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. Aberth adapted for movements between open and closed positions comprising a berth body pivotally connected to a support, means open and closed positions comprising a berth ibody pivotally connected to a support, means for supportingsaid: body at. another point, and meansforylocking said last mentioned 7 means when the berth is in its closed position.

' "8. A berth adapted to be moved between open and closed positions comprising a berth bodypivotally connected to a support, means for supporting said bodyat another point,

said brace inanother direction while and meansfon locking said last mentioned means when saidbody is in its open and closed positions. v

4Q In a berth structure, a pivotally supported berth body adapted to be moved between correspondingmovementsof said berth body.

. 5. In a berth structure, a berth body adapts ed to bermoved between open and closed positions, a pivoted brace arranged to support said body, a lee-railconnectedto one side of said berth body ,xandmeans for automatically lowering and raising said lee-rail when said body is closed and opened, respectively, said port, said means comprising a folding brace at one end of said body and having a fixed pivotal connection therewith, and means for locking said brace in one of the positions of saidbody.

7. A berth adapted to be moved between open and closed positions comprising a berth body .pivotally' supported adj acent its rear side, a folding brace pivotally connected to, one end ofsaid-body, means for locking said brace in one of the positions of said body.

and means for. releasing said brace from said lock1ngmeans.;

'8. A berth adapted to be moved between open and closed positions comprising aberth body pivotally'supp'orted adjacent its'rear side, a folding brace pivotally connected to one end of said body, 'a latch keeper positioned inthepath of movement of said brace, said keeper having an inclined surface and a substantially plane surface, and said parts being so arranged that said brace contacts with said; inclined surface during a pivotal movement: of said body until said brace passes onto said plane surface.

'9.- A berth adapted to be moved between open and closed'positions comprising a berth body'pivotally supported adjacent its rear side; a folding brace 'pivotally connected to one end of said body, means for preventing movement of'said'bra-ce in one'direction while said bodvis in each of said positions, and additional means preventing movement of said body is in one ofsaid positions; 1

,. 10. A'berth adapted to be moved'bet'we'e'n open andclosed positions comprising a berth body .pivotally' supported adjacent its rear side, a folding .brac'e pivotally connected to one end of said'body, a latch keeper for preventing movement of said brace in one 'direction while said body is in each of said positions, and a lug mounted on the side of said body for preventing said brace from breaking upwardly while said body is in said open position. v

11. A berth adapted to be moved between open and closed positions comprising a berth body, means for pivotally supporting saidbody adjacent its rear side, a foldable brace pivotally connected to one end of said body and spring mechanism arranged to assist the movement of said body to its closed position and to retard the movement of said body to its open position. 1

12. A berth adapted to be moved between open and closed positions comprising a berth body, means for pivotally supportingsaid body to its open position.

body adjacent its rear side, and torsion spring mechanism engaging said pivot means its open position, and means on said end wall for adjusting the torsion of said spring.

14. A berth adapted to be moved between open and closed positions comprising a berth body pivotally supported adjacent its rear side, a vertical wall surface adjacent said rear side, a spring positioned in said body, and a mattress mounted on said sprmg, sald parts being so proportloned and arranged that said spring is compressed between said wall surface and b'erthbody when its closed position. I

15. A berth'adapted to be moved between open and closed positions comprising a berth body pivotally supported adjacent its rear side, a folding brace pivotally connected to one end of said body, front and rear latch keepers positioned'in the path of movement of said brace when said body is being moved, means on each of said latch keepers for engaging said brace in one of the positionsof said body, and operatingmeansfor efiecting the berth is .in

a relative movement between said latch keep-.

ers and brace whereby said brace is released from engagement with one of said latch keepers.

16. A berth adapted to be moved between open and closed positions comprising a berth body pivotally supported adjacent its rear side, a folding brace pivotally connected to one end of said body, front and rear latch keepers positioned in the path of movement of said brace when said body is being moved: to its open and closed positions respectively,

means on each of said latch keepers for engaging said brace in one of said positions,

and means for moving, said latch keepers out of engagement with said brace,,sa1d means comprising, a rotatably mounted control rod secured to said latch keepers and manually operatedmeans connected to said control rod and arranged to rotate the same about its lon itudinal axis. 1

1?. A berth ofthe character described com-' prising a berth body, amovable brace bar for supporting said body, and a .latch keeper mounted on said berth body in the path of movement of-said bar and having a cam surface acted on by saidbar after a predetermined movement, means for preventingthe return of said bar, and manually operable means for rendering said last mentioned means ineffective, I v

18. In a berth ofthe character described, a berth body having an opening adjacent one side thereof,'a recessed plate positioned in said opening, a pull key slid'eably mounted in said plate, and a spring at'the inner side of said body for normally holding said pull key in said recessed plate.

19; A berth adapted to be moved between a lower open position and an upper closed position relative to a fixed support andcom prisinga berth body. having an end wallmemher, a pivot pin extending from said support through-said end wall, a coiled torsion spring surrounding said pin at the inner side of said wall member, said pin being constructed to receive and hold'one end of said spring, a

ranged to engage the other end of said spring, and means for adjusting the position of said plate on said wall member to vary the force of said spring.

20. A berth adapted for movements be:

tween a loweropen position and an upper closed position and comprising a body, means for pivotally supporting said body adjacent one side, a supporting member connected to a substantially opposite portion of said body and arranged to change itsposition during the berth movements, locking means mounted on said body for engaging and holding said. 7 supporting member in each of said berth positions, and-manually operable means for freeing said supporting member from said locking means; i

Signed at Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and StateofMaryland, this 7th day of November, A. D. 1928.

,MARMADUKE H. WHITE.

are

10a plate mounted on said wall member and ar- V 

